Whitewater Rafting

The ravens croaked at us from the blue ledges above the Hudson River as we ate sandwiches and shared stories about the rapids we'd encountered. The birds — large, shiny-black, intense-looking creatures — soared and perched, as if both curious and offended by our presence. The whole thing felt amazing and wild: A spring rafting trip through a remote section of the Adirondacks, along a turbulent river that stretches from the mountains to New York City.

As a child I loved to read adventure stories. Climbing Everest, exploring remote jungles, and searching for the North Pole sounded very exciting.

But as I grew up, reality intruded. I was on the clumsy side, and I really shouldn't be staking my life on upper body strength. I'm miserable in humidity, and jungles are very humid. And those arctic explorers... couldn't bathe very often.

In my house, Murphy's Law is not a thing. We refer to it as RaChelle's Law... if it can go wrong, it already has - or it will! This is the way my life goes in general, but especially over the last few weeks.

Christmas is just around the corner, and while we sit here and cross our fingers, pray and do snow dances in hopes of a good winter, it's never too early to think about summer. Maybe your family is planning a vacation, or you know someone who would love to take a trip to the Adirondacks. This year, why not give the gift of an Adirondack Experience?!

If you're looking for fall foliage you'll find it in the central Adirondacks, but did you know there's more than one way to see nature's most vibrant display of the year? Check out this list of our nine favorites.

I'm not old. I'm experienced. Or mature. Or something that sounds dignified while also portrays me as a fun-loving spirit. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

However, as I took an early-morning ride with my coworkers last fall, I can readily admit to feeling my age. As they piled into the car chattering excitedly and ready for the day's adventure, all I could think was, "Damn, I need more coffee. Now." And, "How the heck are they this cheerful, they're more animated than my overly-talkative six-year-old. It's morning. It's early. Stop talking. Where's my coffee?"**

Water Everywhere!

Spring can be a tricky time here in the Adirondacks. It is starting to warm up and the snow is starting to melt. There's no more skiing, no more snowmobiling, and it's time to trade the ice fishing gear for open-water casting.

And everything is wet.

But that's no reason to avoid nature — it's simply time to change your outdoor activities and your outerwear!

I have always been something of a creature of habit. Even as a young child I remember being so upset one year because my parents had decided to put the Christmas tree up in a different location. Now that I am raising a family of my own, I've discovered that my need for routine has become apparent in every aspect of my life and it is rubbing off on my children.